The Confluence is
the monthly electronic newsletter of Minnesota Waters. This newsletter will
provide you with up-to-date information and resources on Minnesota’s lakes and
rivers. To have material included for announcement or to request removal
of your name from this mailing list, please send information to info@minnesotawaters.org. Do not reply to the
listserv from which you received this message.
“We cannot win this battle to save
species and environments without
forging an emotional bond between ourselves
and nature as well---for
we will not fight to save what we do not
love."
-- Stephen Jay Gould
In this
issue:
Minnesota Waters
News
~ New
Publication: Citizen’s Guide to Influencing Local Land-Use Decisions
~ Upcoming Minnesota
Waters’
Workshops
~ Minnesota Waters,
MCEA Testify on Need for Statewide Modification to Shoreland
Rules
~ 2008 Lakes and
Rivers Conference—Mark Your Calendar’s Now!
~ Lake Darling Wins
Appeal of County Subdivision Decision
~ Progress on Aquatic
Plant Management Rule Revisions
~ Remember the Loon
Line on Your Tax Forms-- Funding for “the other”
species
~ 2007 Environmental
Initiative Awards—Nominations Open With New Categories
Legislative News
Resources for Lake and
Stream Stewardship
Conferences, Confabs
and Conglomerations
The Bucks Start Here-
Funding Resources
~
New Publication:
Citizen’s Guide to Influencing Local Land-Use
Decisions
Hot of the press-
Minnesota Waters announces the availability of its new publication—A
Citizen’s Guide to Influencing Local Land-Use Decisions—written in
collaboration with 1000 Friends of Minnesota. The 52-page booklet was written to
create a well-informed, well-organized, well-prepared citizenry ready to address
increasing shoreland development proactively, instead of reactively, in the name
of balanced, well-planned growth and development. To receive a copy, send $5, to
cover postage and handling, to Minnesota Waters:
Workshop: How to
April 3, 2007,
Sponsored by Minnesota Waters,
this citizen-based workshop will start with a
discussion on the state of
Citizen Monitoring
Stream and
Minnesota Waters is
working with local partners to develop spring 2007 citizen water quality
monitoring trainings. Volunteers will receive training on how to take
water samples and proper protocols to ensure high quality data. We will
also practice with monitoring equipment, identify sites for sampling, and set-up
timelines for monitoring and reporting data. Citizen monitors are an
important part of data to information to action – we’ll talk about data use and
establish an action plan for each individual monitor. If you are a
new or current monitor in these watersheds below, please join us to monitor the
health of our waters.
March 31,
2007, Maple Lake,
MN
April 28,
2007, Spicer,
MN
Time:
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., Workshop runs from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00
p.m.
Partners:
For more information
on these trainings contact: Julie Klocker at 320-796-0888, middlefork@charterinternet.com & Diane
Sander at 763-682-1933 Ext.112,diane.sander@mn.nacdnet.net
April 14, 2007 –
Partners:
For more information
on this training contact the Sauk River Watershed District at
320-352-2231.
Sampling trainings
will be funded through the Surface Water Assessment Program of the Clean Water
Legacy. More trainings will be scheduled in the near future – check the
next edition of the Confluence for additional information. If you would
like to be added to the citizen monitoring email list to receive notification of
trainings, please email your contact information (name, address, phone number
& email) to maryk@minnesotawaters.org in the subject line
state: Citizen Monitoring List
Lake Data Assessment
Workshop
May 4, 2007, 8:30-4:30, Central
Lakes College, Brainerd
Citizen Volunteer Monitors: do you
have lake data, but not sure how to analyze and interpret it? Then this
interactive workshop is for you. You will be guided step-by-step through
the process of gathering, organizing, “crunching” and interpreting Secchi disk,
total phosphorus and chlorophyll ‘a’ data in conjunction with data from other
sources. Cost is $15 and includes a step-by-step lake assessment guide and
lunch. Space is limited. Acceptance is on a first come basis. For
registration or information contact: Sandra Holm, Citizen Monitoring Program
Coordinator, 218-765-8329 or RNSholm@brainerd.net. Application deadline is
April 16, 2007. Funding for this project was recommended by the Legislative
Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR) from the Minnesota Environment and
Natural Resources Trust Fund.
Minnesota Waters and
MCEA Testify on Need for Statewide Modification to Shoreland Rules
This
week, Minnesota Waters (MW) and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
(MCEA) testified before the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee
and the House Environment Committee about the need for a statewide modification
of Minnesota’s shoreland rules to provide stronger protections for Minnesota’s
lakes and rivers in the wake of increasing shoreland development.
Both hearings were informational with strong support expressed by
legislative members of both Committees for the need for stronger shoreland
standards—“a raising of the bar” statewide for shoreland protection through
local shoreland ordinances. At the Senate hearing, Minnesota Waters’ members
Hallie Larson, Lake Melissa/Sallie (
The hearings were
requested of the two Committees when the DNR denied MCEA’s petition, supported
by Minnesota Waters, for statewide rulemaking on shoreland management
using the alternative
shoreland standards developed through the North Central Lakes Project as the
initial basis for rulemaking. In late January, the DNR denied the MCEA petition
saying that while they agreed there was a need to revise the rules statewide,
they told the North Central counties they would be voluntary and they would
stick to their word. Instead, the DNR will start a new statewide process for
updating the shoreland standards engaging all counties, cities, and stakeholder
groups in the process. MW and MCEA contend this is unnecessary since the
North Central Project already engaged a wide diversity of stakeholders from
counties, realtors, developers, state tourism, resorts, and environmental groups
for over 12 months to develop the alternative standards, which can apply
statewide and can be augmented with additional sections to address the needs of
counties and cities. Starting the process over is an unnecessary delay since a
new process could take up to two years to complete. Within the next 90 days, the
DNR will internally develop a plan of how they will proceed with rulemaking. MW
and MCEA will continue to monitor the DNR’s commitment to statewide shoreland
standards revision to insure a process does move forward. MCEA has filed a
legal challenge in the court of appeals to the DNR’s petition denial.
Related Articles:
Groups Seek Stricter Policy (January 23,
2007)
http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070123/NEWS01/101220082
Should Shoreland Standards Be
Rules? DNR Says No
(January 29, 2007)
Lake Place A Lot Less Wild—MCEA
Star Tribune Op Ed
(February 18, 2007)
http://www.startribune.com/562/story/1007823.html
2008 Lakes and Rivers
Conference—Mark Your Calendar’s Now
The 2008 Lakes and
Rivers Conference will be held September 11-13, 2008, at the Mayo Civic Center,
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Plan ahead now to attend; more
information to come.
~Legislative News~
Minnesota
Waters’ February Legislative Alert
of
February 17,2007,
can
be viewed
at: http://www.minnesotawaters.org/index.php?uberKey=560&page=3892&pubTopic=32
On Wednesday, February 21, thirty
one Minnesota Waters members, wildlife enthusiasts, environmental advocates, and
students boarded a bus headed to the Minnesota State Capitol. Altogether,
215 Minnesota Environmental Partnership members and friends attended the event
in support of protecting
Renewable Energy
Standard Passes and Signed by the
Governor
The Minnesota House
of Representatives passed a new renewable energy standard, already passed by the
Senate, by a vote of 123-to-10. The bill was signed into law by Governor
Pawlenty on February 22, 2007. The new standard will force utility
companies to get 25% of their power by 2025 from renewable sources. Excel
Energy, the state’s largest utility, would have to hit a 30% standard by 2020.
Some estimates say about 8% of the state’s power already comes from renewable
sources. The new legislation will mean that
Minnesota House Adopts ’25 Percent by 2025’ Green Energy Goal
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/02/19/renewable/
Minnesotan’s Role in Increasing
Renewable Energy Supply
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/01/24/midday1/
A recent state court of appeals
ruling reversed a 2005 Douglas County Board decision approving a minor
subdivision on
Progress on Aquatic
Plant Management Rule Revisions
The DNR is revising its Aquatic
Plant Management Rules. To provide information to interested citizens, the DNR
has developed a rule revision web page at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/apm/index.html To receive further
information on the progress of the aquatic plant management rule revision and
associated aquatic plant management rulemaking notices, subscribe to a list serv
at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/apm/email_updates.html
Remember the Loon
Line on Your Tax Forms-- Funding for “the other”
species
Did you know that donation’s on
state tax forms fund 80% of the DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program, that works to
restore and protect terrestrial and aquatic nongame habitats, survey endangered
and nongame species, and educate the public about nongame wildlife conservation.
For the past 27 years, Minnesotans have supported nongame wildlife projects by
donating on the tax form "loon line;” contributions in 2005 approached an
all-time high of $1.2 million. These fund help support the Loon Monitoring
Program, monitoring and protection for nesting pairs of bald eagles in
2007 Environmental
Initiative Awards—Nominations Open With New Categories
Nominate your
favorite partnership-based environmental project that deserves recognition as
one of
~ Resources for
The Minnesota Office of the
Legislative Auditor recently released an evaluation of how
http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/2007/watersheds.htm
2007 Climate Change
Report
3,750 climate experts from over 100
countries, who spent six years reviewing climate research, reported on February
2, 2007 that, with 90 percent certainty, planetary warming over the last
half-century can be attributed to the burning of fossil fuels and other human
activities. The certainly level was 66% in the group's 2001 report. Among the
findings:
*Hotter temperatures and rises in
sea level will continue for centuries no matter how much humans control CO2
emissons.
* The rise in global temperatures
could be as high as 6.4°C by 2100.
*Predicted sea level rises of 7-23
inches by the end of the century. An additional 3.9-7.8 inches are possible if
recent, surprising melting of polar ice sheets continues.
*Fewer cold days, hotter nights,
more intense heat waves, more floods and heavy rains, devastating droughts, and
an increase in hurricane and tropical storm strength.
Read the report at:
http://www.ipcc.ch/
Recent
http://www.startribune.com/562/story/1012201.html
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/industries/environment/16667604.htm
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/01/30/midmorning1/
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/01/30/global/
http://www.startribune.com/10137/rich_media/934091.html
http://www.grandmarais-mn.com/placed/index.php?story_id=229048
The Natural Resource
Conservation Service is in Every County
The Natural Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS) serves every county in
Satellite Monitoring
is Economical and Accurate
Classification of lake clarity, a
key indicator of water quality, using Landstat satellite imagery has proven to
be an accurate and economical method to monitor the condition of lakes in
~ Conferences, Confabs
and Conglomerations ~
2007 MPCA Air, Water
and Waste Environmental Conference (MAWWEC)
February 27 - March 1, 2007,
Sheraton Hotel,
National and local speakers will
discuss the hottest trends in environmental management during this annual event,
including a 97-booth exhibit and educational tracks in: Air quality,
Environmental innovation, Hazardous waste, Remediation, Solid waste, Stormwater,
and Water quality. If you have registration questions, contact the MPCA at
mawwec@state.mn.us or 651-297-5754.
March 1, Holiday Inn,
Workshop time: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Because there has been a tremendous
increase in concern for the health of
Native Plants for
Landscaping and Restoration
March 1, 2007 (Thurs., 7:00pm): W.
St. Paul, MN
The Minnesota Native Plant Society
is sponsoring a seminar on endangered species, local genetic stock, and
restoring plant communities. For details, see www.mnnps.org or call
612-374-1435.
Minnesota Erosion
Control Association Annual Conference
March 8th &
9th, 2007 Double Tree Park Place Hotel, St. Louis Park, MN
The 18th annual
Minnesota Erosion Control and Stormwater Management conference entitled "Maximum
Control Measures" will be held March 8th & 9th in St.
Louis Park, Minnesota. The conference will feature two widely respected
speakers: Tom Schueler, director of Watershed Research and Practice, Center for
Watershed Protection, and Dave Derrick, U.S. ACOE Research and Development
Center. For more information on the conference, see http://www.mnerosion.org/ or email meca@mnerosion.org or
call the MECA office at 763-478-3267. Registration materials and on-line
registration will be available in January.
◊ March 16, Little
Falls ◊March 22, Mankato ◊ March 28 ,Duluth ◊ April 13,
Alexandria
Urban Conservation
Development Roundtable Series
March 16, 2007,
Woodbury March 30, 2007,
Shoreview April 13, 2007, Shorewood
This roundtable series is designed
to illustrate a variety of local examples of conservation development from the
urban core to edge communities. Receive a comprehensive overview of the range of
approaches to Conservation Development, featuring a mix of land uses, housing
types, and conservation options. Session are free. The series from the Urban
Land Institute Minnesota is co-sponsored with the MN DNR and the Regional
Council of Mayors. For more information, see: http://minnesota.uli.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home45
Shallow Lakes Forum
IV: Assessing, Restoring, and Managing Shallow Lakes
April 4, 2007,
Holiday Inn, St. Cloud--- earlybird registration deadline March 22
The Shallow Lake
Management Forum IV will build on the foundation of the prior three Forums and
focus on the assessment, management and restoration of
Shakopee Creek
Headwaters Project Earth Day Event
April 21, 2007, 8
a.m. to 1 p.m., Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center, Spicer.
In celebration of
Earth Day 2007, this region-wide event will focus on water, energy, climate
change, and how conservation pays. Keynote Speaker will be J. Drake
Hamilton, Fresh Energy, who will talk about connecting everyday lifestyle
choices with environmental issues such as water, energy, and climate change. A
legislative panel will discuss local and federal laws and policies regarding
Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Water Quality, and Environmental Protection.
There will be kids activities, live music, renewable energy demonstrations, and
more. See http://www.prairiewoodselc.org for more
information.
2007 Land-Use
Planning Workshops
The Government Training Service
(GTS) announces its 2007 schedule for Land-Use Planning Workshops, including:
Your Role as a Planning Commission Member, Basics of Planning & Zoning,
Beyond the Basics of Planning & Zoning, Site Planning Basics for Non-Design
Professionals, Getting the Most Out of Your Comprehensive Plan, Spotlight on
Sub-Divisions, and How To Avoid Drowning in Lakeshore Development. Classes
will be held in St. Paul and Little Falls. For dates and details, see:
http://www.mngts.org/LandUse/LandUse2007a.html
~ The Bucks Start Here
~ Funding Resources
Mediation
Services
The St. Cloud State
University-based Institute for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has acquired
funding to provide ADR services to clients with financial need. Funding
comes from the Bremer Foundation, Initiative Foundation and State of
Minnesota. Potential clients can be individuals, groups, or organizations
who meet the income/revenue eligibility requirements. ADR is also
interested in helping cities and townships in any type of land dispute.
For clients who meet the income/revenue eligibility requirements, ADR services
are free of charge. For clients who do not meet the income/revenue
requirements, ADR services will be assessed on a sliding scale basis. ADR
services include mediation (both interest-based and transformative), peace
circles, facilitation, and strategic planning. For more information on the
Institute for ADR, visit www.stcloudstate.edu/continuingstudies/instituteADR or call (320)
308-4962.
Anderson Brothers
Family Fund Invites Grant Applications
The Initiative
Foundation-hosted Anderson Brothers Family Fund will award grants to eligible
nonprofits for projects or programs supporting children, youth and families; the
elderly or special needs groups; and environmental initiatives. Eligible
organizations must serve Cass County, Crow Wing County, northern Morrison County
(including Little Falls) or the Park Rapids area. Priority will be given
to volunteer-driven projects and organizations that have few other means of
support. Grants awarded from this fund typically range in size from $1,000 to
$5,000. Requests for on-going operating expenses are discouraged and requests
for capital expenses are ineligible. For more information go to: http://www.ifound.org/news_newsroom.php?NWArticleID=91
Minnesota is truly on
top of the “water world” in North America. We are at the headwaters of the
mighty Mississippi draining to the Gulf of Mexico, the St. Louis River draining
to the Great Lakes and the Red & Rainy Rivers draining to Hudson Bay.
The “land of 10,000 lakes” and 92,000 miles of river is blessed not only with an
abundance of water resources, Minnesota is also home to countless citizens
poised to protect and preserve these resources for generations to come.
Minnesota Waters celebrates the coming together of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers,
the partnerships of engaged citizens and stewardship-minded leaders, and the
inseparable bond connecting Minnesotans with its water. In this light,
The Confluence delivers timely news and information on the state of
Minnesota’s lakes and rivers, and what citizens, policy makers and organizations
can do to protect Minnesota’s priceless water resources, today and
tomorrow.
Minnesota Waters
promotes responsible
stewardship of our water resources by engaging citizens, state and local policy
makers and other like-minded partners in the protection and restoration of our
lakes and rivers. We achieve our mission through watershed education,
citizen monitoring, supporting conservation stewardship, influencing public
policy and empowering citizen groups to manage their local water
resources.
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